Amphibious boat with vertical air shutter

ABSTRACT

An amphibious air cushion boat including rearwardly opening opposite side compressed air outlets each having a centrally located vertical air rudder operatively associated therewith for steerage of the boat. Each of the outlets is provided with a pair of movable and controlled air shutters upstream from the associated air rudder and operable to throttle the discharge of air from the outlet in a manner such that the rudder is maintained centered in the air discharge from the outlet throughout the full range of movement of the air shutters from the full open positions thereof to substantially fully closed positions thereof and the air being discharged from the outlet, when partially throttled, is directed on opposite side surfaces of the rudder whereby the rudder will be maintained effective to steer the boat even when the air discharge from the outlets is throttled to less than 10 percent of the airflow when the air shutters are in the fully opened positions.

United States Patent [72] Inventor John Van veldhuizen 31601 'S.W. 197th Ave., Homestead, Fla. 33030 [21] Appl. No. 859,069 [22] Filed Sept. 18, 1969 [45] Patented Oct. 12, 1971 [54] AMPHIBIOUS BOAT WITH VERTICAL AIR SHUTTER 12 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 115/12, v 114/67 R [51] Int. Cl ..B63h 11/00, 1363b 1/34 [50] Field of Search 115/12, 1, 11; I I4l67.l, 163; 244/52, 73,15, 29; 60/228, 221

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 340.237 4/1886 Nagel etal 114/163 1,572,812 7 2/1926 Rees 244/52 X 3,332, 89 7/1'67 v5h'vfiflfiehifiljilf. 1157i? FOREIGN PATENTS 1,322,406 2/1963 France 244/29 Primary Examiner-Trygve M Blix Attorneys-Clarence A. OBrien and Harvey B. Jacobson ABSTRACT: An amphibious air cushion boat including rearwardly opening opposite side compressed air outlets each having a centrally located vertical air rudder operatively associated therewith for steerage of the boat. Each of the outlets is provided with a pair of movable and controlled air shutters upstream from the associated air rudder and operable to throttle the discharge of air from the outlet in a manner such that the rudder is maintained centered in the air discharge from the outlet throughout the full range of movement of the air shutters from the full open positions thereof to substantially fully closed positions thereof and the air being discharged from the outlet, when partially throttled, is directed on opposite side surfaces of the rudder whereby the rudder will be maintained effective to steer the boat even when the air discharge from the outlets is throttled to less than 10 percent of the airflow when the air shutters are in the fully opened positions.

AMPIIIBIOUS BOAT WITH VERTICAL AIR SHUTTER The invention disclosed herein comprises an improvement over the invention disclosed in my copending US. application Ser. No. 678,630, filed Oct. 27, I967, for Amphibious Boat," which boat comprises an improvement over the boat disclosed in my prior US. Pat. No. 3,332,389, dated July 25, 1967.

The amphibious boat of the instant invention not only serves as a boat but also as an air cushion vehicle and includes a pair of rearwardly opening opposite side compressed air outlets for forward propulsion and with which a pair of vertical air rudders are operatively associated. The air rudders are positioned rearwardly of the air outlets and in alignment with the longitudinal centerlines of the outlets. Each of the outlets is further provided with a pair of movable and controlled air shutters upstream from the associated air rudder and each pair of air shutters is operable independently of the other pair of air shutters to throttle the discharge of air from the corresponding outlet from opposite side areas of the latter. The air shutters operate not only to restrict the flow of air from the outlets in increasingly widening opposite side areas of the outlets but also in a manner whereby the air which is discharged past the air shutters on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerlines of the air outlets is directed rearwardly in a convergent manner so as to impinge upon the opposite side surfaces of the corresponding air rudders until the air shutters are moved to the fully closed positions completely terminating the flow of air from the outlets. In this manner, as long as the air shutters are even partially open sufficient air is directed upon the opposite side surfaces of the air rudders whereby full steerage control of the boat or air cushion vehicle is maintained. Accordingly, it may be seen that the air cushion vehicle of the instant invention is constructed in a manner whereby full steerage control is maintained even though the forward thrust to the vehicle by the rearward discharge of compressed air from the air outlets is maintained at an absolute minimum.

The main object of this invention is to provide an air propulsion and steerage system for vehicles wherein substantially full steerage is maintained even though forward air propulsion is maintained at a minimum.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a vehicle of the air cushion type provided with air cushion forming means operable to form and maintain a supporting air cushion beneath the vehicle and designed also to include rearwardly opening air outlet means for propulsion with the outlet means including air shutter means for throttling the discharge of propulsion air from the rearwardly opening outlet means as well as air rudder means disposed in the center of air being discharged from the air outlet means and maintained in the center of air discharge from the propulsion outlet means throughout throttling of the air outlet means.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide an amphibious air cushion boat in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to operate so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble-free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the aft portion of an amphibious air cushion boat constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing through the center of one of the propulsion air outlets at the stern of the air cushion boat;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating a modified form of air shutter construction for throttling the discharge of air from the rearwardly opening opposite side air outlets of the air cushion boat; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view similar to FIGS. 1 and 3, but illustrating a second modified form of air shutter construction utilized to throttle the discharge of air from the opposite side rearwardly opening propulsion air outlets of the air cushion boat.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates an amphibious air cushion boat similar to that disclosed in my copending US. Pat. application Ser. No. 678,630, filed Oct. 27, l967.The boat 10 includes an airtight bottom assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral 12 comprising a bottom member 14 and a false bottom 16 in vertically spaced relation above the bottom member 14. The boat 10 includes a pair of opposite sides 18 and 20 which project upwardly from the bottom assembly 12 and a pair of opposite sidewalls 28 and 30 spaced inwardly from the sides 18 and 20 and between which a transverse wall 26 extends.

A pair of high bypass turbofan engines 32 are disposed within the engine compartment 24. The engines 32 may be of any desirable type such as the T 55 engine manufactured by Avco, Lycoming Division. The engines include fan assemblies 36 which are front mounted and mated to the power turbines of the engines through their center shafts. From FIG. 2 of the drawings it may be seen that the fan assemblies 36 are enclosed within inner stationary shrouds 62 and the shrouds 62 are enclosed within stationary outer shrouds 64.

The boat 10 includes a pair of opposite side forwardly and upwardly opening air inlets 66 defined by the forwardly and upwardly opening forward ends of the shrouds 64 and the shrouds 64 open rearwardly and downwardly into opposite side air chambers 68 and 70 defined between the rear ends of the sides 18 and 20 above the bottom wall assembly 12.

The opposite side marginal edge portions of the false bottom 16 are provided with longitudinally spaced hinged flap members 72 which may be opened by suitable motors 74. The opposite sides of the sealed bottom assembly 12 are defined by upstanding sidewalls (not shown) thereof disposed in coplanar relationship with the sidewalls 28 and 30 and accordingly, when the flap members 72 are opened, the air chambers 68 and 70 are communicated with longitudinally extending op posite side air chambers 78 disposed below the false bottom 16 and extending along opposite side portions of the boat 10 outwardly of the opposite sides of the sealed bottom assembly 12. The air chambers 78 project downwardly below the opposite side marginal edge portions of the bottom assembly 12 and are provided with bottom wall portions 80 having air outlet openings 82 formed therein whereby air discharged into the air chambers 78 may be discharged into the area defined between the bottom wall portions 80 below the bottom member 14 in order to form a supporting air cushion beneath the boat 10.

The fan assemblies 36, when driven by the engines 32 are operative to pump air inwardly through the air inlets 66 and into the air chambers 68 and 70 which are separated by means of an upstanding longitudinally extending partition 83 projecting upwardly from the false bottom 16. The rear ends of the air chambers 68 and 70 define rearwardly opening outlets from which air pumped into the air chambers 68 and 70 may be discharged rearwardly for forward propulsion of the boat 10.

Each of the air outlets has ,a vertical air rudder 84 operatively associated therewith and mounted for oscillation about a vertical axis in alignment with the longitudinal centerline of the corresponding air chamber. The air rudders 84 are interconnected by means of a tie rod 86 and a fluid motor 88 is operatively connected between a stationary portion of the boat 10 and one end of the tie rod 86 for simultaneously oscillating the air rudders 84 in similar fashion about their vertical axes of oscillation. Accordingly, it may be seen that the air rudders 84 may be utilized to steer the boat 10.

operatively connected to corresponding portions of the associated air shutters.

From FIG. 1 of the drawings it may be seen that the air shutters 90 may be pivoted from the fully open dotted line positions thereof illustrated in FIG. 1 toward the solid line positions thereof by extension of the piston rods 94 in order to partially throttle and then fully throttle the discharge of air from the associated air outlet. However, it will be further noted that as the discharge of air from the air outlets is throttled, that air which passes the air shutters 90 moves over both the inner and outer surfaces of each air shutter 90 and is deflected toward the corresponding side surface of the associated air rudder 84. in this manner, even when the discharge of air from one of the air outlets is almost substantially fully throttled, that air which does pass the air shutters 90 will be discharged in alignment with the corresponding air shutter and be deflected onto the opposite side surfaces of the corresponding air rudder 84 thereby ensuring that full steerage of the boat 10 is maintained even though the air outlets are almost fully throttled.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIG. 3 of the drawings there will be seen a modified form of air boat generally referred to by the reference numeral 110 and which is substantially identical in construction to the air boat 10 except that the air shutters 190 thereof are oscillatably supported from opposite side marginal edge portions of each corresponding air outlet. A pair of fluid motors 192 is operatively connected to each pair of corresponding air shutters and it may be seen that the fluid motors 192 may be utilized to move the air shutters 190 from the fully closed air throttling positions illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 3 of the drawings toward the full open positions past the dotted line positions thereof illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings. Likewise, when the air shutters 90 are partially throttling the discharge of air from the associated air outlets, the air passing the air shutters 190 is directed onto opposite side portions of the air rudders 184 of the boat 110.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIG. 4 of the drawing there may be seen a second modified form of air boat referred to in general by the reference numeral 210 and which is also similar in construction to the boat 10, The air shutters 290 of the boat 210 comprise quarter cylindrical panel members oscillatably supported for swinging about corresponding coaxial axes 291 and each pair of air shutters 290 is driven or controlled by means of a pair of corresponding fluid motors 292. As the air shutters 290 are moved from the fully closed solid line positions thereof illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings toward the partially open phantom line positions thereof illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings the adjacent edge portions of each pair of air shutters 290 are moved apart thereby opening a central passage there past in longitudinal alignment with the corresponding air rudder 284.

Therefore, it may be seen that the operation of the air shutters 290 is similar to the operation of the air shutters 190 and 90 in that partially throttled air passing between the adjacent edges of corresponding air shutters 290 is directed onto opposite sides of the corresponding air rudder 284.

in steering either form of boat at slow speeds, the controls for the various opposite side air shutters may be actuated individually, whereby if a right turn is desired the right-hand shutters may be maintained closed and the left-hand shutters may be opened slightly with the corresponding rudders angled rearwardly to the right. in this manner the discharge of air only from the left-hand side of the boat will assist the left-hand rudder in sharply turning the boat to the right with little forward thrust being developed. Also, it is to be noted that the boat 10 of the instant invention will be provided with controlled forwardly opening air discharge ports on opposite sides of its bow, similar to those reversing ports disclosed in my above aforementioned copending application and that the rignt-hand forward reversing port may be opened slightly to offset what little forward thrust referred to above is developed, if desired.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a vehicle including a compressed air outlet having transversely centrally located upstanding air rudder means oscillatable about an upstanding axis operatively associated therewith and disposed, at least partially, out wardly of said outlet for steerage of the vehicle, said outlet also having movable air shutter means operatively associated therewith upstream from the associated air rudder means and shiftable between open and closed ositions for throttling the discharge of air from the outlet, said air shutter means, when in any partially closed positions, including means operative to maintain the transverse center of the flow of air there past at least substantially aligned with the upstanding axis of oscillation of said air rudder means.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said vehicle includes a pair of said outlets on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of said vehicle and the second outlet has air rudder means and air shutter means corresponding to the first men tioned rudder and shutter means operatively associated therewith.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said outlet opens rearwardly of said vehicle whereby the air discharged therefrom may also serve to propel the vehicle forwardly.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said vehicle comprises an air cushion vehicle including air cushion forming means operable to form and maintain a supporting air cushion beneath said vehicle.

5. ln combination with a structure including a compressed air outlet defining a longitudinal centerline, flap means centrally disposed relative to the centerline of said outlet and supported for oscillation about an axis disposed generally normal to said centerline and with said flap means disposed at least partially downstream from said outlet, said outlet also having a plurality of movable air shutters operatively associated therewith upstream from the associated flap means for throttling the discharge of air from said outlet past said flap means, said shutters being swingable in both directions from center positions disposed in planes generally paralleling said centerline, said shutters, when partially closed, including means operative to maintain the transverse center of the flow of air there past at least substantially aligned with the axis of oscillation of said air flap means.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said shutters comprise a pair of panel portions mounted for oscillation about axes generally paralleling the axis of oscillation of said rudder means and disposed on opposite sides of the centerline of said outlet.

7. The combination of claim 6 including control means operatively connected to said pair of panel portions for equally and oppositely oscillating said panel portions about their axes of oscillation.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said shutter means comprise a pair of panel portions mounted for oscillation about axes generally paralleling the axis of oscillation of said rudder means and disposed on opposite sides of the centerline of said outlet, the axes of oscillation of said panel portions being spaced closely adjacent the corresponding opposite side portions of said outlet.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said shutter means comprise a pair of panel portions mounted for oscillation about axes generally paralleling the axis of oscillation of said rudder means and disposed on opposite sides of the centerline of said outlet, the axes of oscillation of said panel portions each being spaced inwardly of the corresponding opposite side portions of said outlet.

10. The combination of claim 1 wherein said shutter means comprise a pair of panel portions mounted for oscillation about axes generally paralleling the axis of oscillation of said rudder means and disposed on opposite sides of the centerline of said outlet, the axes of oscillation of said panel portions coinciding with each other.

11. The combination of claim 1 wherein said shutter means comprise a pair of panel portions mounted for oscillation about axes generally paralleling the axis of oscillation of said rudder means and disposed on opposite sides of the centerline of said outlet, said panel portions each comprising partial cylindrical panel members whose axes of curvature generally coincide with said axes of oscillation.

12. In combination, a vehicle including opposite side rearwardly opening compressed air outlets having corresponding transversely centrally located vertical air rudder means oscillatable about vertical axes operatively associated therewith for steerage of the vehicle, said outlets also having movable air shutter means operatively associated therewith upstream from the associated air rudder means and shiftable between open and closed positions for throttling the discharge of air from said outlets, said air shutter means, when partially closed, including means operative to maintain the transverse center of airflow therepast at least substantially transversely centered relative to the axes of oscillation of said rudder means. 

1. In combination with a vehicle including a compressed air outlet having transversely centrally located upstanding air rudder means oscillatable about an upstanding axis operatively associated therewith and disposed, at least partially, outwardly of said outlet for steerage of the vehicle, said outlet also having movable air shutter means operatively associated therewith upstream from the associated air rudder means and shiftable between open and closed positions for throttling the discharge of air from the outlet, said air shutter means, when in any partially closed positions, including means operative to maintain the transverse center of the flow of air there past at least substantially aligned with the upstanding axis of oscillation of said air rudder means.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said vehicle includes a pair of said outlets on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of said vehicle and the second outlet has air rudder means and air shutter means corresponding to the first mentioned rudder and shutter means operatively associated therewith.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said outlet opens rearwardly of said vehicle whereby the air discharged therefrom may also serve to propel the vehicle forwardly.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said vehicle comprises an air cushion vehicle including air cushion forming means operable to form and maintain a supporting air cushion beneath said vehicle.
 5. In combination with a structure including a compressed air outlet defining a longitudinal centerline, flap means centrally disposed relative to the centerline of said outlet and supported for oscillation about an axis disposed generally normal to said centerline and with said flap means disposed at least partially downstream from said outlet, said outlet also having a plurality of movable air shutters operatively associated therewith upstream from the associated flap means for throttling the discharge of air from said outlet past said flap means, said shutters being swingable in both directions from center positions disposed in planes generally paralleling said centerline, said shutters, when partially closed, including means operative to maintain the transverse center of the flow of air there past at least substantially aligned with the axis of oscillation of said air flap means.
 6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said shutters comprise a pair of panel portions mounted for oscillation about axes generally paralleling the axis of oscillation of said rudder means and disposed on opposite sides of the centerline of said outlet.
 7. The combination of claim 6 including control means operatively connected to said pair of panel portions for equally and oppositely oscillating said panel portions about their axes of oscillation.
 8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said shutter means comprise a pair of panel portions mounted for oscillation about axes generally paralleling the axis of oscillation of said rudder means and disposed on opposite sides of the centerline of said outlet, the axes of oscillation of said panel portions being spaced closely adjacent the corresponding opposite side portions of said outlet.
 9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said shutter means comprise a pair of panel portions mounted for oscillation about axes generally paralleling the axis of oscillation of said rudder means and disposed on opposite sides of the centerline of said outlet, the axes of oscillation of said panel portions each being spaced inwardly of the corresponding opposite side portions of said outlet.
 10. The combination of claim 1 wherein said shutter means comprise a pair of panel portions mounted for oscillation about axes generally paralleling the axis of oscillation of said rudder means and disposed on opposite sides of the centerline of said outlet, the axes of oscillation of said panel portions coinciding with each other.
 11. The combination of claim 1 wherein said shutter means comprise a pair of panel portions mounted for oscillation about axes generally paralleling the axis of oscillation of said rudder means and disposed on opposite sides of the centerline of said outlet, said panel portions each comprising partial cylindrical panel members whose axes of curvature generally coincide with said axes of oscillation.
 12. In combination, a vehicle including opposite side rearwardly opening compressed air outlets having corresponding transversely centrally located vertical air rudder means oscillatable about vertical axes operatively associated therewith for steerage of the vehicle, said outlets also having movable air shutter means operatively associated therewith upstream from the associated air rudder means and shiftable between open and closed positions for throttling the discharge of air from said outlets, said air shutter means, when partially closed, Including means operative to maintain the transverse center of airflow therepast at least substantially transversely centered relative to the axes of oscillation of said rudder means. 